Golf-ball.



PATBNTED FEB. 25, 1908.

E. W. THURLOW.

GOLF BALL.

APPLIOA'I'ION FILED JAN. 2. 1907.

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EDWARD WILLIAM THURLOW, OF NORTHGOTE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

GOLF-B ALL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

Application filed January 2. 1907- Serial No. 350M161.

To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD WILLIAM THURLOW, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 87 Cunningham street, Northcote, in the State of Victoria and v Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Golf-Balls, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of improvements in that class of golf ball which comprises a core formed with a rubber thread wound into spherical form under tension approaching the elastic limit, and a shell of relatively hard inelastic material, such as gutta-percha. Golf balls so constructed possess the qualities of lightness, elasticity, and resilience, but when played with they soon get out of shape, with the result that the shell or cover of inelastic material cracks, the ball being then rendered to all intents and purposes useless. This is due to the fact that the shell or cover is separate and distinct from the core, that is, there is practically no adhesion or amalgamation with the rubber core, as the gutta-percha forming the shell or cover, which is, as well known, in a plastic condition when applied to the core, adheres only to a slight extent to the rubber threads forming the outer circumference of the core, and consequently when the ball is struck by the driver, cleek, or other golf club used by the player, the rubber threads are torn away from the shell or cover, and every successive blow administered to the ball has the eflect of accentuating the mischief, with the ultimate result of bulging and cracking the cover.

Now by my invention the shell or cover is integral with the core, and in actual practice it has been found impossible even by using greater force than can be applied with a golf club, to alter the shape of the ball, and consequently cracking of the cover is impossible.

In constructing a golf ball according to my invention, I first make a gutta-percha core in the form of a spider, the said spider having preferably eight spokes, the outer end of each spoke being preferably slightly enlarged, and each spoke of the core, hereinafter referred to as the spider, is then Wound circumferentially with vulcanized indiarubber thread, the said thread during the process of winding being kept at a tension approaching the elastic limit. Such Winding is continued until the thread on the spokes is almost level with the outer edge of the enlarged ends of the spokes. I then spherically wind vulcanized india-rubber thread between the spokes, said thread being preferably at about one half the tension of the thread used for winding around the spokes. Said winding is continued until a practically complete spherical core is produced so far as the india-rubber thread winding is concerned, the enlarged ends of the spokes projecting slightly beyond the outer circumference of the spherical core for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

When the winding of the spider is completed to form a spherical core it is subjected to a temperature of about 100 degrees centigrade, for a sufiicient time to bring to a semi plastic condition the ends of the gutta-percha s okes, which as previously stated project s ightly beyond the outer circumference of the spherical core. The sheet of gutta-percha to form the shell or cover which has also been brought to a semi-plastic condition is then wrapped round the spherical core and the whole submitted to pressure in a mold with the result that the gutta-percha to form the shell is forced down on to the spherical core and surrounds and becomes intimately admixed with the ends of the gutta-percha spokes, which as reviously explained proj ect beyond the sp erical core, the shell and spider thus forming a homogeneous whole.

The object of enlarging the ends of the spokes is to facilitate the winding of the india-rubber thread, and at the same time to prevent any liability to slip, and further, the shape of the ends provides a larger surface for attachment of the shell or cover thereto.

Referring to the drawings in which the same reference letters indicate similar arts in all the views,Figure 1 shows an e evation of the spider I employ in carrying out my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the spider showing the spokes thereof wound circumferentially with vulcanized india-rubber thread. Fig. 3 is a view of the s herical core produced by winding the spo es circumferentially with vulcanized india-rubber thread, and subsequently filling the spaces between said spokes by winding spherically with the same material. Fig. 4 is a view partly in section on line A, A, Fig. 3, of my golf ball, the projecting ends of the s okes prior to the shell being attached-being s own in dotted lines.

a is the spider, b are the spokes, and c the enlarged ends thereof. d is the vulcanized india-rubber thread wound circumferentially on said s okes. spherica y between the spokes of said spider after they have been wound circumferentially.

f is the complete s herical core.

by is the outer she or cover of gutta-perc a.

Having now fully described and ascertained my said invention, and the manner in which it is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. An article of the classdescribe'd, comprising a body having independently projecting spokes, a filling, and a cover having e is the similar thread wound connection with the spokes to form a shell for the filling.

2. A golf ball, comprising a core of elastic 20 material and having radial s okes, the terminals thereof being slightly enlarged, a winding on the s okes and core forming a filling for the ba s, and a covering united with the enlarged terminals of the spokes to 25 entirely inclose the core and filling.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD WILLIAM THURLOW.

Witnesses:

WALLER S. BAYSTON, FRANK BAYsToN. 

